4 civilians, militant killed in Shopian shootout

Four civilians and a militant were killed by Indian Security Forces on Sunday evening in the Shopian district of south Kashmir as the forces responded to an attack on a mobile vehicle checkpost. From the casualties, the militant has been identified as Shahid Ahmad Dar and one victim has been identified as a civilian student.

According to security forces, the attack took place around 8 pm on Sunday when the vehicle check post manned by army personnel was fired upon by a car they signaled to stop.

Army’s Srinagar based spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia told media that all four were killed after militants attacked the Mobile Vehicle Check Post (MVCP) of army’s 44 Rashtriya Rifles at Pahnoo village this evening.

“Militants travelling in a vehicle fired upon army personnel who retaliated by firing several shots, leading to a brief exchange of fire. During the exchange of fire one militant was killed instantly and later three OGWs (Over-Ground Workers or associates in counter-terrorism parlance) were found dead. One rifle was also recovered. The search operation was started in the area while an alert was also sounded.” he added.

The bodies were not handed over to the local people when this report was filed on late Sunday night. The villagers refuted the army claim and said the three slain men were civilians and not OGWs. “On Sunday evening militants attacked army vehicle in Pahnoo village. The army in retaliation killed a militant and later shot dead three civilians who were traveling in a car,” a local, wishing not to be named told media.

Local residents alleged that this was the second time in this year that civilians have been killed in Army firing, and hinted that the incident could spark unrest.